HENNESSY AND HOLLAND BEGIN ENGLISH DERBY PREP

Ian Fortune

Both Paul Hennessy and Graham Holland began their English Derby preparations over the weekend with Hennessy trialling four of his potential team on Friday, while Holland had three runners in the various Derby Trial Stakes at Towcester on Sunday afternoon.

Fastest of the Hennessy quartet was Lennies Desire as he posted 28.86 (-.20) for the 500m trip. Of course, he reached the final of the Maiden Derby at Towcester last year, but is best known as the track record holder for the Derby trip.

His record is likely to come under severe pressure this year with the new traps at Towcester leading to far faster sectional and overall times.

The Tote Gold Cup champion Coloursaregreen also trialled, postingan encouraging 28.95sec, while Priceless Romeo clocked 29.17sec. Lennies Eddie, who exited the Kirby Memorial in the opening round had a spin over 270m and went around in 15.81sec (-10).

BRIAN FASTEST IN DERBY TRIAL STAKES

Graham Holland had three runners in the Derby Trials Stakes at Towcester yesterday afternoon and Slippery Brian was the standout as he raced to a ready success in a quick 28.65 (-.10).

Drawn widest of the four runners, he displayed fine early speed to get loose into the turn.

Even money favourite Droopys Berries moved second entering the back straight and did all he could to close but Slippery Brian wasn’t for catching and went on to score at 4-1 by two and a half lengths. 

Gaytime Joachim was always second in the first of the trial stakes. Zappa got to the front early but was pressed throughout by Gaytime Joachim. At the line there was a length and a half between the pair in 28.83.

Swords Style got somewhat lost at the opening turn in the second trial stake, allowing Rebel Alaska to assert. Swords Style flew from traps and was clear into the bend only to run extremely wide. Rebel Alaska pounced and went on to win by just over three lengths in 28.89 but it was an encouraging run rom Swords Style in second. He will come on considerably for the run and should he continue to clock 3.75 for the opening sectional, very few will lead him to the bend.